Day: September 13, 2011

“The next election is 14 months away. And the people who sent us here — the people who hired us to work for them — they don’t have the luxury of waiting 14 months. Some of them are living week to week, paycheck to paycheck, even day to day. They need help, and they need it now.”

–President Barack Obama, September 8, 2011

This week, Democrats launched a major new ad to support the American Jobs Act. We want every voter who has questions about President Obama’s proposal to get answers, and we want to begin the effort of fighting to get this bill passed.

New Mexico senate candidates Heather Wilson and John Sanchez must have had a big smile on their faces during last night’s Tea Party debate, as Republican presidential candidates argued about who had the “best” plan to scrap Social Security, a program the candidates called “a ponzi scheme” and “criminal.” Wilson and Sanchez both pledged to support a plan that guts not just Social Security but Medicare too!

Earlier this year, Wilson and Sanchez pledged to support a Tea Party budget that is most appropriately described as a plan to “Cut, Cap, and Kill” programs like Social Security and Medicare. Now, the Republican presidential candidates are jumping on the Wilson-Sanchez bandwagon as they plan to dismantle Social Security and Medicare and balance the budget on the back of New Mexico seniors.

“The GOP’s crusade to scrap Social Security has reached a fevered pitch and New Mexico senate candidates Heather Wilson and John Sanchez are helping to lead the charge,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Heather Wilson and John Sanchez pledged to balance the budget on the backs of New Mexico seniors by forcing deep cuts in Social Security and Medicare, and now the GOP presidential candidates are jumping on the Wilson-Sanchez bandwagon as they decide how their party can scrap Social Security.”

Heather Wilson and John Sanchez’s plan would “necessitate deep cuts in Social Security,” according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and would also force benefit gutting cuts to Medicare. But Wilson and Sanchez’s plan would still preserve tax breaks for the rich and corporate special interests like Big Oil companies. Wilson and Sanchez’s pledge shows they simply can’t be trusted to stand up for New Mexico seniors or middle-class families.

“Hardworking New Mexico families deserve leaders who will look out for their interests, but time and again Heather Wilson and John Sanchez have proven they only care about advancing their extreme Tea Party philosophy that benefits the rich and corporate special interests at the expense of seniors and middle-class families,“ Canter added.

Background:

Wilson Signed Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare Pledge; Plan Will Force Deep Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Wilson signed a radical Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare budget pledge. “The measure does not cut Social Security or Medicare in 2012. And it does not subject them to automatic cuts if its global spending caps are missed. It is inconceivable, however, that policymakers would meet the bill’s severe annual spending caps through automatic across-the board cuts year after year; if they did, key government functions would be crippled. Policymakers would have little alternative but to institute deep cuts in specific programs. […] Reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” [Cut Cap Balance Act.com signers, accessed 7/19/2011; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]

Sanchez Signed Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare Pledge; Plan Will Force Deep Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Sanchez signed a radical Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare budget pledge. “The measure does not cut Social Security or Medicare in 2012. And it does not subject them to automatic cuts if its global spending caps are missed. It is inconceivable, however, that policymakers would meet the bill’s severe annual spending caps through automatic across-the board cuts year after year; if they did, key government functions would be crippled. Policymakers would have little alternative but to institute deep cuts in specific programs. […] Reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” [Cut Cap Balance Act.com signers, accessed 7/19/2011; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]